Interchangeable sign-board



(No moai.

- I. EMMER.

INTERGHANGBABLE SIGN BOARD.

No. 480,255. Patented Aug. 9,1 92.

% 9221mm PM fi w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC EMMER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,255, dated August 9, 1892.

' Application filed August 13, 1891. Serial No, 402,509. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC EMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Sign-Boards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the construction of changeable metallic signs, and has for its 0bect to produce an ornamental and readilycast f rame,with letter or figure panels adapted to be inserted therein and removed therefrom.

To this end the inventi0n,generally stated, conslsts in a cast-metal sign-frame having on its inner edge a continuous plate-channel, which terminates in a gate for the introduct1on or withdrawal of a figure or letter plate and in letters or figures cast with lateral flanges or frameplates adapted to slide in the plate-channel of the frame, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my inventlon more specifically, so that others skilled 1n the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combined sign-frame and letter-plates embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. etis a rear perspective view of the frame, the gate being open; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detached letter showing the lateral flanges or frame-plates.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

A indicates the sign-frame, which is cast in a single piece with a continuous plate-channel a around its inner edge, said channel terminating in a plate-gate (1, preferably located at or adjacent to one end of the frame A and formed in the longitudinal portion thereof and adapted to be closed by a movable bar or section 0, which may be pivoted, as at D, or otherwise secured to the frame, so as to confine the letter or figure plates when closed. The frame A may also be cast with ears or pierced lugs E for attaching the signframe A to any suitable support. Formed in one end of the movable bar or section 0 is a hole 0, through which a screw or other like device is inserted, and into the frame for holding the said bar in aclosed position after the letter or figure plates have been located in the channel a.

B indicates the letter or figure plates, which are cast or otherwise form ed with or connected to the letter or figure, so as to form thereon lateral flanges of a thickness adapted to slide in the plate-channel a of the cast-frame and sufficiently extensive to form the spacing between the letters, which will be determined by the character and form of the letter or figure. In addition thereto suitable spacingplates equivalent in thickness to the flanges or letter-plates may be provided.

The sign-frame and letter-plates being constructed as hereinbefore specified, the sign is set up and changed at will by inserting the letter-plates through the gate into the platechannel of the frame and arranging them in the required position, afterward closing and securing the gate by bar 0 or any other suitable manner.

The construction of the frame and letter or figure plates hereinbefore specified enables them to be readily cast, burnished, and finished up at little cost, and by using metals of different colors in frame and letter-plates highly-ornamental changeable signs can be readily produced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A street-sign consisting of a frame A, pierced ears E, formed on the opposite ends of the said frame, a plate-gate cl, formed in said frame and located at one end of the longitudinal portion of the same, a bar 0, hinged at D to one end of the plate-gate, a hole 0, formed in the said bar, through which a screw or other device is inserted and into the frame, and a continuous channel Cb, formed around the inner edges of the frame when the said bar is closed, said channel adapted to receive letter or figure plates in a manner herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of August, 1891.

ISAAC EMMER.

Witnesses:

A. RAMEL, J. W. CRooKEs. 

